The Family that Plays Together Stays Together

Updated on July 29, 2011

Family, The Basic Unit of Society

Families come in all shapes and sizes. They range from large families living on very little, to little families living with excess, and everything in between. One common thread that all families share is the process of meshing potentially great individuals into one great whole.

This "whole" is the basic unit of society. All larger units of society depend on this smallest and fundamental unit, the family. The strength of this basic unit is the building block for the strength of the world itself.

Eternal Marriage

In the LDS Temple a family can be sealed together forever.

It is important to develop strong family ties that can last forever.

As a member of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, sometimes commonly referred to as the Mormons, the strength of the family is of utmost importance to me. My beliefs in a life after death, with the potential of living with my family for eternity (which is a REALLY long time), helps to influence my decisions when it comes to relationships I develop with my family members.

This understanding is the basis for all my efforts to build the strong family ties that will last forever.

Love The Tie That Binds

Sometimes it's hard to mold the individuals that make up the family, together in one common goal, but it is always easier when you do it with love. A constant supply of warmth, kindness, and just plain charity towards one another, can make up for a multitude of potential or past mistakes.

There are many suggestions for increasing a family's commonality, especially when that is a priority in your family. I have found that among other things a family can do to become unified, learning to have fun together, is on the top of the list.

A Little Bit of Heaven on Earth

One of the ways to strengthen families is by creating memories.

One of the ways that my family has fun together is on the water. We are really water "dogs" at heart. We have set aside a certain time every year to spend at one of our favorite places, Lake Powell. This has been a tradition, for as long as I can remember, carried over from my childhood to my own family today.

We have evolved from camping on the beach in a tent, when we were first married (young, poor, and struggling to make ends meet), to a houseboat, where we feel we have died and gone heaven. Some of our most memorable times have been spent there. We have danced, sang, swam, skiied, boarded, laughed, played, cried, and bonded together in that beautiful desert oasis. Friendships with each other have been strengthened as we just took the time to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature.

Even when you are working together, you can make memories.

Playing Power is Staying Power

Sometimes it has been a sacrifice to try to keep our commitment as a family to this yearly vacation. It has been financially challanging at times. It has also proven to be a challenge of scheduling as our children have grown older and have more things that have demanded their time.

We all, individually, have come to realize that the benefits have outweighed the sacrifices by far. The value of just "playing" together has proven to be one of our biggest staying factors when it comes to building our cohesive family unit.

When challanging times have arisen we have had a general reserve of playful memories. These have seen us through the temporary difficulties of just living life and it's everyday trials. We have learned to laugh together and that is a real asset.

Looking at the family unit with an eternal perspective adds to the importance of building strong relationships.

This life is a time to strengthen family relationships and make memories that will last forever. I believe this to be one of the reasons that our Father in Heaven sent us here to earth. We are here to build an eternal family.

Regardless of our individual circmustances, when it comes to a family unit we are all part of a larger family, a member of God's family. For this reason, and many more, people all over the world generally consider the family to be the highest priority.

Parents, generally, are concerned with how they can become a bigger influence on their children than the other massive forces pulling at them. Of all the helps that I have discovered that are available to parents today, in my opinion, one of the greatest resources is a document called "The Family: A Proclamation to the World." It is direction given to help the family unit remain the focus of our world today. It offers direction to the family that can give us more peace and happiness in our lives.

Additional Information

Mormons are ChristianSome basic beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, commonly called, "The Mormons."

The Greatest Family in the World

Just like you, I think I have the greatest family in the world. I can't imagine ever living without them near me. I find comfort in the message given by a living prophet of God today, one that teaches me the importance of my family and instructs me in the principles that can help me to live with them forever. The relationships you build today can be here to stay. I know this to be true and it brings me peace.

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Comments 27 comments

I too feel that family is the most important part of our lives here. For me, although having a family has given me many challenges -- I would not be who I am without these experiences. They have caused me to be a better person than I surely would be otherwise.

I love my family for the people that they are, and what I have learned from these relationships. They are my favorite people.

I can't imagine life without all of them, here and in the next life.

Love your pic.

tDMg,

LdsNana

Eileen Hughes 8 years ago from Northam Western Australia

Good hub. Love the pic on heaven on earth.

YourBiggestSupporter 8 years ago

You article is a very uplifting and send a good message to families in the never ending quest to be able to stay united at all times. Being part of a family is so important and a place where an individual can look for the most strength and love. Thans for a positive Hub!!!

The Favorite Daughter 8 years ago

You're really cool. Families are forever!

In The Doghouse 8 years ago from California Author

LdsNana, thank you for your insights about family relationships. The picture is wonderful, isn't it. My favorite friend went on vacation with our family this year and became the designated photographer. It is her work. I tru.ly appreciate her talent.

Mike Jones 8 years ago

How wonderful, excellent. This hub must have been inspired. Family is the essence of the kingdom of God. Thank you for a few moments of peace while visiting your site.

pawswright 8 years ago

Your thoughts and feelings about your family relationships are shared by me. I also have felt that it is important to make family time a priority over outside activities to keep your family relationships strong. At times, we have had to sacrifice other things in order to preserve our family activities. With busy lives, it isn't easy to do, but it's WORTH IT. I believe that my children were sent to me to teach me how to be a good parent. How backwards is that? I'm still learning. (It helps to have a great husband too, which I do!) Thank you again for sharing your thoughts on FAMILY! I look forward to reading more on your hub!

Tim McMurtrey 8 years ago

Hey "in the dog house", echo your comments regarding family. As someone newly getting married, I too want to instill the same values with my soon to be wife and her family, the importance of working together as a unit, having fun, and the showing unconditional Love that helps the unit bind together. Keep up the comments.

In The Doghouse 8 years ago from California Author

Hey Tim, Good luck with your new family. I know if you practice the values you mentioned, you will have great joy and happiness in your home.

Brookie 8 years ago

I loved reading your article, it help me remind me why I try and continue to set an example for my family, so that “one day and some day” we will be together forever. I love that families can be together forever. Your article for some reason brought me back to the time when I was investigating the church. Which is always a good thing, I hope you write another article soon! I always love hearing what you have to say I always learn so much!

<33 Brookie

Erin 8 years ago

Great Job Diana! Families Forever are so important. Pics make me think of home sweet home :)

exinco 8 years ago from Malaysia

family first. if not who else?

calrigby 8 years ago

hey dogs, i love your words. you are wonderful! thanks for sharing your thoughts with all of us in cyberspace.

In The Doghouse 8 years ago from California Author

Calrigby

Nice to have you visit me in cyberspace..come back and see me again!

Michelle 8 years ago

I love your new blog site. You are an amazing teacher and I am so happy that others will have the opportunity to learn from you. What you said about families is right on. Right now I don't live with my family and it's hard. But I'm thankful for places I can go where I feel at home. Like your house and the Rigby's. Thank you for that.

I can't wait to read all that you post.

Love you,

Michelle

In The Doghouse 8 years ago from California Author

Michelle

Thanks for your love and support.

William F. Torpey 8 years ago from South Valley Stream, N.Y.

Family is always No. 1, but I feel all the world is family. Nice hub.

In The Doghouse 8 years ago from California Author

William

We totally agree on that point. Thank you for the visit.

Bocadike 8 years ago

Family is the only way. Without family we have nothing. So we must remember that no success can compensate for falure in the home!!

Bocadike 8 years ago

I guess you know that word is FAILURE not falure! Thanks!

JDM :) 8 years ago

I have to say that my favorite memories of my childhood and young life have been sepnt with my family having fun either at homr or on vacation.

jnate 8 years ago from Utah

Families are the best! It is definitely worth putting the effort into making it stronger and more loving. Playing together is a wonderful way to bond with each other. We have been to Lake Powell and have thoroughly enjoyed it. We love to go up in the mountains, or rock climbing in Moab, or out on the Sand dunes in our Yamaha Rhino. It is amazing to get out and see nature and all of God's creations. It is nice to get away from the stresses of daily life. We can't help but feel closer to each other after these activities.

C-Lee 8 years ago

Hi IN!

Family is without a doubt our most valuable asset, and sometimes it takes having your own to realize this. It's too easy to lose sight of this, so thank you!

I find that in my circle of friends, it's the mother who works hard to keep the family vibrant and cohesive. Is that true for others too?

And I completely agree about the central role of family vacations in creating wonderful memories!

ripplemaker 8 years ago from Cebu, Philippines

Beautiful insights. If people find love and care at home, the world would be a better place to live in. :-)

--michelle

In The Doghouse 8 years ago from California Author

michelle,

thank you for you always kind comments. You certainly do make ripples of kindness flow from your wonderful heart. I am a firm believer in the importance of family. I love mine and hope that they will be with me forever.

Peggy W 7 years ago from Houston, Texas

Well written hub regarding the importance of families and having fun together. The portrait of the two of you with paint on your faces reminded me of a time when my mother and I were painting. She slipped and got some paint on me by accident and I thought that she did it on purpose.......having some fun. So I "accidently" used my paintbrush and got some paint on her. "Oops there!" The "oops" continued until we were pretty well covered with paint.